Also just continuing on the updates:

Coinclip iOS: Probably the best for iOS in terms of working. Okayish UI/UX. But does it's job. I was able to sync node, Request test coins, Open channel with test coins, Pay on the channel and finally close the channels. Although later on it started crashing as well, but apart from that awesome.

Most of them are on testnet to give the glimpse of Lightning. So you would not need to worry about your coins for now.

When on mainnet, I believe there are 2 things which we need to keep in mind while using:

1. Open-sourced/ Not open-sourced.
2. Above that, with some of the wallet (Thin Wallet, Zap iOS closed beta currently) you can actually maintain your own lightning node and these apps would help just interact with the node.

Not enough but good start.

I like the blogs published by Bitmex. One of the awesome sources to gather knowledge around cryptocurrency.

In this blog they discuss problem and benefits of deflationary economics. https://blog.bitmex.com/bitcoin-economics-part-3/

To quote from this:

I agree that it's a new kind of monetary system and it would have it's own problem when it becomes well adapted. but economically speaking do we need this system adding to the complexity already existing financial system.

Got the rawTx synced as well


rawTx iOS: Can download from the app store. Testnet. Has all the features, focus is not on UI. App crashes very frequently while opening the wallet. Syncing process is fine. But even after the last block is synced, it says syncing. Most of the wallet does not allow features of opening channels while syncing (maybe lightning thing). So unable to open channel. The normal Bitcoin Blockchain pub address to receive test bitcoins keep changing, so by the time you get test coins (usually more than 10 minutes) wallet has some other address and you can not use the coins received in other address in any way (wallet does not show the private keys, makes its more difficult).


Rest later. Let me know if you need any more info.

After this post I thought I will give a try to each of the wallet and post the experience here.

Swift Lightning iOS: close Beta. Testnet. Gives access through TestFlight. Good UI, probably the best among all. Since iPhone does not allow background syncing app screen should be in the front. I had to close the app for some other work and syncing stops right there. Whatever you do after that syncing does not begin again.

I recently posted list of mobile lightning wallets. All seem very clunky. Is there a good way to see lightning working or wait is what we can do?

I know it's still very early for great lightning wallets. But I think we need a thread where we can have list of these.
                                 Open Source  Require Full Node    Mainent                Version
eclair wallet                       yes                  no               April 2018         android
bitcoin lightning wallet        yes                  no            May 2018                 android
rawtx                                yes                  no            coming soon           android/iOS
CoinClip                             no                  no            coming soon           iOS
SwiftLightning                    yes                  no            coming soon           iOS closed-beta
Shango                              no                  no            coming soon           android closed-beta/iOS closed-beta
Thin wallet                         no                  yes            April 2018                 iOS
CoinOs                              yes                  no            coming soon           android
Shock Wallet                      no                  yes            August 2018    


Please add if you know others. And post review if you have used any of these

I know it's still very early for great lightning wallets. But I think we need a thread where we can have list of these.
                                 Open Source  Require Full Node    Mainent                Version
eclair wallet                       yes                  no               April 2018         android
bitcoin lightning wallet        yes                  no            May 2018                 android
rawtx                                yes                  no            coming soon           android/iOS
CoinClip                             no                  no            coming soon           iOS
SwiftLightning                    yes                  no            coming soon           iOS closed-beta
Shango                              no                  no            coming soon           android closed-beta/iOS closed-beta
Thin wallet                           no                  yes            April 2018                 iOS
CoinOs                              yes                  no            coming soon           android
Shock Wallet                      no                  yes            August 2018    


Please add if you know others. And post review if you have used any of these

I recently visited back home and was helping my grandma use facebook, she found a product ad and wanted to buy that. And it was really tedious process, how she struggled with every step.

Now I know there are a lot benefits of bitcoin. But one thing I really find difficult is reaching to people with 3rd world countries with no financial inclusion. There is a steep learning curve - Mobile ->Internet ->Basic service on internet -> Bitcoin -> And maybe lightning down the line. And I actually don't see service who has or promises to solve this gap.

The only solution I can think bitcoin may be reaches somehow to next generation. Who start fiddling with from start and learn. That makes this whole revolution taking place in multiple generations not in few years or decades. What do you think? Or are there any services which are helping right now?

And most importantly if this has been previously discussed please redirect me to right place. Thanks

Just read this Blockstream blog, and I am excited to see growing research on scaling solution and how things would really different (read awesome) down the line.

eltoo: A Simplified Update Mechanism for Lightning and Off-Chain Contracts

https://blockstream.com/2018/04/30/eltoo-next-lightning.html

Would love to discuss more/ what do you guys think?